Technimatic Interview
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Pete and Andy are Technimatic, a Drum & Bass duo with slick mixes and inspiring basslines that truly uplift. Their new album, ‘Desire Paths’, is an exciting release for anyone that gets the buzz of D&B, and certainly has the boys themselves on a high. Heading off for their first ever tour of Australia, Technimatic are going to celebrate the 18th birthday of Drum&BassArena, and judging by what you’re about to read, they couldn’t be more excited. While sitting in the bar at Heathrow waiting to board their flight, they speak fluently about their creative process, their favourite shows so far and their first trip Down Under.
Hi Pete, Andy, how are you both?
We are both feeling good at the moment; we’re really pleased with our album [‘Desire Paths’] and how it was received. We’re about to play numerous shows around Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the UK, and are helping celebrate Shogun’s 10-year celebrations so we really can’t complain.
We’ve got to congratulate you on ‘Desire Paths’ as one of the Drum & Bass albums of the year. Can you describe the production process? Where were you based and how long did it take to finish?
We probably have one of the more convoluted work methods in D&B, but it’s a system that has worked for us really well. Most of the album was spent sending ideas back and forth on email, starting out as perhaps a little sketch one of us had come up with and then developing from there. We have two main bases where we write. Pete has a small studio setup at home and I have a more acoustically favourable space in my flat. During the album writing process, I was in Bedford (one hour north of London) and Pete was in Wimbledon, London, so our time together was quite rare. That said, about once a month Pete would head up to Bedford and we’d spend a full day really going in. Working in the same space is always what we prefer – it’s the time when we have the most fun and get to enjoy the creative process together. That isn’t always possible due to day-to-day commitments, but for the latter stages of the album, Pete came up and stayed for a week. We both went slightly crazy, but it was worth it, as we feel we have a piece of work we are truly proud of and wouldn’t have done any other way. The album itself from the initial discussions with Shogun of, ‘would you like to write an album with us?’ to having it delivered, packaged and mastered was about 18 months. We are now both living in London, which already is proving a huge advantage and we have slowly started working on a few sketches and new material.
What track gave you the most grief and which one are you most proud of?
None of them were painful in the sense that we weren’t ever enjoying the process, but there were a couple of real head-scratchers on there! ‘Music Is Music’ was one, only because there was a weird, unplanned sound that seemed to appear, at random, throughout the finishing-off process. We pretty much went mad trying to find it for a few hours, and then realised if we persisted we’d genuinely lose the plot. I think the one we are most proud of is ‘Looking For Diversion’. It’s the first time we really looked at crafting a song as well as a DJ track and the response to it has been fantastic.
An album of uplifting, emotionally-charged D&B, how does ‘Desire Paths’ express your own journey to this point?
It definitely sums up our journey up to this point. We made the album in often quite challenging circumstances, with day jobs, day-to-day family life and everything in between. But that has definitely filtered through to the music and every track has an emotional connection to us as people. It’s an expression of our journey up until this point, and carving this new path in our lives. We still have to pinch ourselves that we’ve got to this stage. The question for us now is where we go next.
Has there been a gap for this sound? Do you think D&B has needed a breath of fresh air?
We can only write what comes naturally, and is a reflection of who we are and what we hold to be important in music. We have always loved Drum & Bass that has a soul, a story, something that attempts to connect with you on a deep level, and has a human feel to it. But it’s one of those genres that goes through trends, cycles and evolves constantly. That is what keeps it interesting and what drives it forward. It can be difficult sometimes when you feel as though other styles and flavours are in the ascendancy, and you might be marginalised, but you have to stay true to yourselves. The fact people have been responding well to our music is amazing for us because it gives us that confidence to keep going and believe in what we are doing.
What do you draw your creativity from and what drives it?
Absolutely everything. The music we hear, documentaries on the radio, mundane things like watching traffic or looking at the sky, and everything we experience as people in our personal lives. It all filters, one way or the other, into what we make musically. What drives it, I guess, is the desire that every person has when they create something; communication and connection. You are able to communicate things with music, to yourself and other people. And the connection that can create is something very powerful. Standing on a stage, hearing people sing lyrics back to you whilst thinking ‘am I really doing this?’. It’s one of the main reasons we do this.
You work with the beautiful folk vocal of Lucy Kitchen on ‘Looking For Diversion’. How did you meet this Southampton songstress?
Well it was actually through our label. We had this instrumental sketch knocking around for ages and asked them if they knew any vocalists. We tried a few different singers, all of which were good, but we just weren’t getting the “sound” we were after. Then we received a version back with Lucy singing on it. It completely blew us away and we knew that was the one. From there we developed the track with Lucy and then recorded her in a studio in London. I don’t think any of us (Lucy included) were prepared for the reaction it has received. We will definitely be working with her more in the future!
The video for ‘Night Vision’ is based on a trip to Berlin for a set; do you spend much of your time flying to different shows, in and out of the country in one day? Is there a recent set that you enjoyed?
Yeah, we spend a fair bit of time flying around, as well as doing a lot of shows in the UK too. This year’s Sun & Bass was fantastic, just perfect vibes. We also did a set at Plan B in Brixton in the summer that was really special, more so because we got to play after Fabio and Grooverider, who are huge influences for us. And we should also mention our album launch party in London, which was quite a night. It felt like everything came together, and to have our family there (including Andy’s mum and dad in the DJ booth!) partners, friends, our fans, everyone at the label and an incredible line-up of artists was fantastic.
A tour of Australia and New Zealand is days away. Is it your first trip Down Under?
It is indeed and the excitement is palpable! We’ve never been to that part of the world, let alone been lucky enough to do it as a result of our music. It’s funny because all these incredible things have happened and are continuing to happen as a result of something that we love doing. Funnily enough, this interview is actually being written in the bar at Heathrow before setting off. The emotions that are being felt right now are a mixture of excitement, anticipation and a strong desire to just get out and express what we do and what we are about.
You’re coming to celebrate Drum&Bass Arena’s 18th birthday. Can you let us in on what you’re going to be doing? Surely some heavy partying is in order?
Partying? Naaaah, think it’ll be heading to bed early every night and strictly water (and if you believe that you’ll believe anything). We’re heading all over the place: Christchurch, Auckland, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. Got plenty of grand new music to play, lots of VIP edits that only we have and of course lots of surprises. Really excited and absolutely cannot wait!
Will you be taking advantage of the sunny weather and warm temperatures? If you get the chance, where would you most like to check out?
Oh, it would be rude not to! I think because it’s a part of the world never really explored by us, we’d love to see everything! And to be honest, if anyone has any suggestions or can recommend things that we wouldn’t be able to experience anywhere else then please let us know! As long as we get to wear a hat with corks, life is complete.
If you could ask any other DJ one question who and what would it be?
It would be to DJ Shadow. Can we come round and look at your records? And borrow one or 10? Thanks.
Brilliant. Thanks, guys!
Watch Technimatic Featuring Lucy Kitchen ‘Looking For Diversion’
Drum & Bass Arena Australian Tour Dates
17th October – Bass Element, Adelaide. Get your ticket here
18th October – The Hi-Fi, Sydney. Get your ticket here
19th October – Brown Alley, Melbourne. Get your ticket here
24th October – Metro City, Perth. Get your ticket here
By Charlotte Mellor
@cmellor_03
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